Slovak Interior Minister steps down after journalist murder

14:20
12 March 2018
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The central European nation has been swept by massive protests since the murder of journalist Ján Kuciak who was behind the report unveiling the links between Slovakian lawmakers and organized crime groups.

Slovak Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Robert Kalinak resigned on Monday in the wake of the mass demonstrations triggered by the killing of Ján Kuciak and his fiancee.

"I think to fulfil my mandate I have to do everything to preserve stability in Slovakia," Kalinak said. "For this reason I have decided to resign as deputy prime minister and interior minister."

The news of gun killings of Kuciak and his fiancee, Martina Kušnírová, who were found dead in their house in late February, has shaken Slovakia with people taking to the streets of cities across the country in demonstartion of their anger.

About 50,000 people rallied in Bratislava last Friday, calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Robert Fico and his cabinet. The rallies have been described as the biggest demonstrations in the country since the the so-called Velvet Revolution in 1989, which marked the resignation of the Communist leadership and the disintegration of then-Czechoslovakia.

On March 4, Slovak President Andrej Kiska called for a government reshuffle or a early polls in an attempt to restore public trust. He also launched the talks with the political opposition to ease the tensions in the country.

Police initially suggested the assasination was "most likely" associated with his investigation into relations between Slovakia's leadership and members of the Italian mafia.